Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut, from Australia, sits on the bench during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Oakland, Calif., Monday, March 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut, from Australia, sits on...

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Golden State Warriors new center Andrew Bogut, wearing a cast on his broken ankle, was introduced to the media during a news conference, Friday, March 16, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors acquired Bogut from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Golden State Warriors' David Lee, left, watches the game against the Milwaukee Bucks beside new center Andrew Bogut during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 16, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

Golden State Warriors' David Lee, left, watches the game against...

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In this Jan. 10, 2012 file photo, Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bogut (6) dunks over San Antonio Spurs' DeJuan Blair during the second half of an NBA basketball game, in Milwaukee. The Bucks traded Bogut and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, March 13, 2012, for a three-player package headed by high-scoring guard Monta Ellis.

After playing all 82 games as the 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, Andrew Bogut has played an average of 54.3 games in the six seasons since then.

The 7-foot, 260-pound newly acquired Warriors center had a streak of 148 consecutive games played that was snapped his sophomore season because of a left mid-foot sprain, and he will miss the rest of this season with a fractured left ankle. In between, he's had any number of freak falls, high-impact collisions and downright unlucky breaks that have sidelined him.

Team policy states that the Warriors medical staff doesn't speak publicly, but Dr. Tim McAdams was made available to talk about Bogut for this story. The team's orthopedist said the Warriors were well aware of the specific factors surrounding Bogut's injury history when they traded Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh for the big man March 13.

McAdams said he reviewed all of Bogut's imaging studies, had discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks' medical staff and corroborated the findings with two independent specialists before giving an optimistic report to the Warriors. The studies prompted co-owner Joe Lacob to say he saw "no risk" in acquiring Bogut.

"The most frustrating thing is people on the outside looking in and saying, 'Oh, he's injury-prone,' " Bogut said. "That's a stigma I have and one I'll deal with. I guess I need to go see a witch doctor, or something."

The affable and sarcastic Australian tries to joke about his past two injuries - comparing them to seeing 1,000 black cats while walking under 1,000 ladders - but it's clear that he takes questions about his health personally.

After three first-quarter blocks Jan. 25, he was going for a fourth when he landed on Kyle Lowry's foot and broke his ankle.

On April 3, 2010, Bogut dunked on a fastbreak, but a little shove in the back from Amar'e Stoudemire caused the center to fall 10 feet from the rim and land awkwardly on his right arm - dislocating his elbow and breaking his wrist and finger.

"Anyone can go on Google, research my past two injuries and realize that they're not chronic," Bogut said. "I do the right things in the offseason. These are just freak occurrences. These aren't issues of being overweight or being out of condition."

During the lockout, Bogut would sometimes drive to a gym for a workout in the middle of the night. He made friends with the Warriors' athletic training staff before he even met his new teammates, and, though he's in a walking boot, he has been a mainstay at shootarounds and practices.

Bogut extols Australian rules footballer Robert Harvey, who repeatedly jumped off his kitchen table to sever the band of ligaments causing plantar fasciitis so he could keep playing. Bogut gutted out most of the 2010-11 season with a floating bone that caused intense pain in his elbow and played nearly half of 2008-09 before he was correctly diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back.

"The only way I can dispel the doubts is to come back as healthy as I can, be in the best shape possible and help get this thing back where it has to be," Bogut said. "My offense has been up and down because of injuries, but I think I can get it back to where it needs to be. I know I'm going to get 10 rebounds a game, I'm going to be in the top five in taking charges, and I'm going to block shots.

Warriors tonight

Who: Nets (17-35) at Warriors (20-29)

When: 7:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: CSNBA/680

Of note: The Warriors have lost eight of their past 10 games, and the Nets have lost eight of their past 11. ... New Jersey hasn't won at Oracle Arena since 2005. ... Forward Kris Humphries had 15 rebounds in the Nets' 107-100 home victory over the Warriors on Jan. 18. The Warriors had 26 rebounds as a team in that game. ... Point guard Deron Williams has averaged 21.6 points and 9.4 assists in seven games since returning from a strained right calf. ... Forward Gerald Wallace is shooting 34.4 percent, going 32-of-93 from the floor since being traded from Portland.